Lauren Horsford is a name with which few golf fans will be familiar. That might soon be about to change however, as the nineteen-year-old LET rookie begins life on tour.
Lauren Horsford is a name with which few golf fans will be familiar. That might all be about to change however, for, at only nineteen, the Londoner is soon to begin plying her trade on the Ladies European Tour.
The youngster’s rise to the professional ranks has been rapid, reducing her handicap from 3 to plus 3 within the space of three years, before finishing in T12th at LET Q-School this December to secure her full playing privileges for the 2017 season. We caught up with Lauren to find out more.
Name: Lauren Horsford
Born: 11/3/1997
Golf Club: Wimbledon Park
Handicap on turning pro: Plus 3
Most Notable Achievement: Securing LET Tour Card; Henry Cooper Junior Masters Champion
Tell us a little bit about your amateur career?
A lot of the British girls’ who make it to tour have played internationally. I haven’t, but I played great last season and knew that I was good enough to make it.
For the past three years, I’ve been studying at The Golf College, in Sussex. We spend the autumn and summer terms in the UK and then head out to Spain for three months during the winter to work on our golf, whilst also studying towards a BTEC diploma. With the extensive coaching you receive my golf has improved dramatically, and I have won the Surrey Championships and Henry Cooper Junior Masters over the past couple of years.
You obviously played well at Tour School. How was it?
Last year I had a great first round only to go on and miss the cut, so I knew what to expect.
I started with a 67 this time around and it was then a case of hanging on and playing consistently for the rest of the week. I had a few shots to spare going into the final round but it was still a nerve-wracking experience. I ended up finishing with a 75. Under that pressure, it felt more like 65.
You spend a week in Spain last month at LET Rookie Orientation. Tell us about that experience?
Well it snowed! We obviously didn’t play a lot of golf but it was a great experience getting to know the other girls and finding out more about life on tour. I don’t really know many LET players other than Annabel Dimmock and fellow rookie, Inci Mehmet, whom I played Surrey county golf with, so it was a good opportunity to build some friendships before the season gets underway.
Where will your season start?
To be honest, I’m not sure. I’m second reserve for the Oates Vic Open, in Australia which starts on the February 9. Fingers crossed I’ll get in, if not there’s still a few months to work on my game before the LET season really gets underway.
Ultimate Ambition?
Major Champion
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